First, here's a little background on me. I have done about a year and a half worth of autox in the past. Then I got bit by the track bug and haven't turned back. But before I take it to a road course, I thought I should test the handling and limit of the RX-8 on venue that's safer than a road course. Autox is the perfect place. So yesterday (Sat) I went to an autox practice. The main event is on Sunday. The venue is at a community college (Brevard) parking lot.

At the beginning, I over drove the stock tires. I had to slow down more than I'm used to for the corners to allow grip back to the front tires. It had a lot of understeer. Much of it probably has to do with my unfamiliarity with driving rwd car. In one sweeper, I gave it a bit too much throttle and it almost spun, but I caught it and continued. It was a hoot. Got to learn to control the rear with that throttle. It has good throttle response out of 2nd gear corner. In fact, it was all 2nd gear except for the start. During the slalom, I did feel body rolls but the transition was quite controllable. The brakes are awesome. With better tires, they would be amazing. I felt the ABS kicks in, but nothing intrusive.

In this particular practice, we did all our runs right in a row. By the 8th run, the stock Potenza RE040 tires were all mush. It's fine for the street, but it doesn't cut it in autox. An instructor drove the car and he agreed that the stock tires have got to go. I'm still debating on whether to change it out before I go to the track event, which is only three weeks away.

Anyway, I signed up in group BS and this was the best time after 8 runs.

97 Porsche 911 35.614
03 Honda S2000 36.173
04 Mazda RX-8 36.278
86 Porsche 944 38.262

I actually had a time of 35.8xx but had to kill 2 cones to get it. The instructor drove my car and got a 36.4xx. We agreed though, the limiting factor was the tires. The S2000 has Kumho Victoracer. I don't know why the Porsche 911 was group in BS. But it's practice so it didn't really matter.

Overall, I had a great time. The RX-8 was getting a lot of attentions and compliments. Everyone wanted to see it. One guy wanted me to open the rear door to prove to his wife that it had the extra door. One instructor said, "You made my day by bringing this car out here today." Well, it made my day too.

PS. I would have gone today to the main event, but I got back from a friend birthday party at 3:45am. There's no way I'm waking up at 7am. Oh well.

Sounds like you had a lot of fun, you only raced FWD's before? What kind of car(s) did you race before? I dont think it was the understeer, I think it was just the difference between a RWD and FWD if thats what your used to racing. Get some 11lb 15"ers and mount some slicks and show em what the 8 can do.

looks like the 8 compared quite favorably with the S2000. Quite a relief after that best motoring video that was going around! :)

Dang, too bad no one was there with a Vid Cam, coulda done Good Duck's Guide To Best Motoring.. hehhe

Sorry I haven't reply lately; I've been on vacation. Anyway, the 8 is my first RWD car. I had mostly FWD car before, the Civic Si being the last. I'm sure that the understeer was the result of my inexperience with RWD car.